Chapter 7
Schniela stared at her left hand and gasped loudly in shock.
But Isel’s reaction was strange too. His eyes were just as wide.
[W-What? …Why is His Grace surprised?]
She took a breath and asked,
“….”
Isel’s gaze did not meet hers. He was not even looking at the red thread.
If he wasn’t shocked by what he saw, then could it be—
[Your Grace… can you hear my voice?]
His lips parted as if he were about to respond.
Schniela crossed her arms and waited expectantly.
But she was not the only one waiting for his answer.
“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
The marquess stepped down from the podium and asked with concern.
“…It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Isel answered briefly and turned away.
Schniela reached out toward his back to call him again but hesitated.
Many eyes were on him—her parents, the High Priest, the servants.
And only Isel had reacted to her voice. Everyone else looked calm.
‘If I speak and he answers, he’ll look like a madman talking to himself.’
Since becoming a ghost, Schniela had felt lonely. The possibility that Isel could hear her had filled her with brief excitement.
But she could not embarrass him in front of so many people.
So she closed her mouth and quietly followed him.
After the ceremony,
the marquess and Isel boarded a carriage waiting at the estate’s main gate.
About twenty minutes later, the carriage arrived at the Warp Gate on the outskirts of the capital.
It seemed Isel intended to return to his residence using the gate.
For a moment, Schniela felt disappointed that the wedding had ended so quickly. But she soon hurried after Isel as he stepped down.
The Warp Gate was a massive stone archway large enough for three men to walk through side by side.
In its center shimmered rainbow-colored light, and two Imperial Knights stood guard beside it.
[Wow. It’s my first time seeing a Warp Gate!]
Schniela looked up at it with excitement.
The Warp Gate was the fastest mode of transportation in the empire.
If one tore a purchased scroll near the gate, it would instantly teleport the user to a designated location.
However, the scrolls were extremely expensive.
When she was alive, Schniela had dreamed of traveling across the empire using a Warp Gate once she became healthy.
She had wanted to visit the beautiful southern seas, the ancient forests of the east, and the vast western deserts.
‘And I especially wanted to visit the North. They say there are snowy mountains that never fully melt.’
But she had never been healthy enough. Even stepping outside her room had been difficult.
Now she was using a Warp Gate for the first time—as a ghost.
For a moment, sadness washed over her.
But she pushed it aside.
There were many who never experienced it at all. How lucky she was to try it, even as a ghost.
And today was her wedding day. It was too good a day to be gloomy.
Meanwhile, the marquess and Isel exchanged a few words.
“Your Highness, would you prefer the wedding to remain quiet, or should it become widely known?”
The marquess added that he could either spread the news across every newspaper in the empire—or ensure that no one except perhaps the Emperor would know.
“…Quiet would be best.”
After a brief pause, Isel answered softly.
“Does His Majesty know about this marriage?”
“No. It would be better not to inform him yet.”
The marquess looked puzzled at his quick response.
“The funeral was not long ago. It may be best not to announce that I married so soon afterward. For now, let us keep it secret.”
The marquess nodded. A spirit wedding was rare, and it would surely cause a stir.
“I understand.”
After finishing their discussion, the marquess bid him farewell warmly.
“Thank you. I will depart comfortably thanks to your consideration, Father-in-law.”
Isel bowed politely.
At last, he took out the scroll.
‘Wait… can a ghost pass through the gate?’
The thought struck Schniela too late.
‘What if I can’t? It takes a week by horse to travel from Balennov to Salamincha!’
Worried, she pressed close to Isel.
Rip—
The sound of tearing paper echoed.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
When she opened them again—
The scenery had completely changed.
Above was a gloomy gray sky.
Below rose towering black mountains that seemed to pierce the heavens. Between the steep cliffs were dark green forests and streaks of white snow.
[Wow…]
Even from afar, the mountains were magnificent.
At their base stood a vast black castle.
With high walls, mountains behind it, and a river flowing in front, it looked like a fortress.
A royal bloodline living in such a mysterious place—like a prince from a fairy tale.
Though perhaps “prince” was too warm a word for Isel’s cold expression.
Well, it didn’t matter. As long as he was handsome in her eyes.
She giggled quietly.
Click.
A nearby sound drew her attention.
She turned to see a carriage waiting by the Warp Gate.
When she looked at it closely, she froze.
‘Why does it look so shabby?’
The paint was chipped, and the wheels looked old-fashioned. It barely resembled a noble’s carriage.
“Your Highness!”
A man with short green hair jumped out of the carriage and hurried over.
He wore slightly worn but decent clothes—perhaps a minor noble.
Schniela guessed he was Isel’s aide.
“Hmm.”
The man stroked his chin and examined Isel from head to toe.
“What is it, Jacksy? Why are you staring?”
“Wow, is this the fashion of Balennov? You look amazing! If you return like this, the young ladies of Salamincha will all fall head over heels!”
‘What are you saying? He’s already married!’
Schniela glared at the green-haired man.
She didn’t like him.
“…That’s not something you say to a newlywed groom.”
As if sharing her thoughts, Isel scolded him lightly.
“Ah, my mistake! You must be tired from your journey. Please, get in the carriage.”
Jacksy apologized quickly.
‘He seems a bit silly.’
Schniela boarded the carriage with Isel.
It rattled terribly. She could clearly see Isel’s shoulders shaking with each bump.
‘There isn’t even a cushioning spell on the seats?’
She was grateful to be a ghost. If she were alive, she would have felt nauseous and asked to stop several times.
After arriving at the Grand Duke’s residence,
Isel went straight to his room on the third floor.
He changed his clothes, unpacked briefly, and lay down on the bed.
Schniela slowly looked around the room with curious eyes.
